Custom VinylMadness 2013 Winner

WDWNT on March 17, 2013

And it’s done! The first annual Custom VinylMadness is over and the winner is Aristocats, by Mark Hoffmann. Look for an interview with Mark Hoffmann on an upcoming episode of the Destination Vinylmation podcast. Also, Mark has won three months of advertising on the DV website and podcast! We would like to thank all the custom artists who sent in customs for the Madness and we would also like to thank all the voters who helped us crown this year’s winner! See the entire bracket here.

Collector’s Corner: Kimiko

WDWNT on March 17, 2013

How long have you been collecting? I’ve been collecting for 3 1/2 years, since October of 2009
How many vinyl do you have? According to Chasing Vinylmation, I have 878….. yikes!

What was your first vinylmation? Urban 2 Cosmos
What is your favorite Disney made Vinylmation? This is tough. I think my all time favorite is Park 5 flowers and fairies. I love the crystals!
Who is your favorite Disney artist? It’s a 3 way tie between Thomas Scott, Maria Clapsis, and Mike Sullivan.
What is your favorite custom vinyl? I love all the customs I have, but my favorite is the Starducks custom by Red Virtue Vinylmation Arts. I’m a huge Starbucks fiend, so this was perfect for me!

Nick has one of those. He’s a big drinker too. What is the vinyl you want but don’t have yet? Definitely the park 1 balloon chaser!
What you are looking forward to in 2013 from Vinylmation? I’m looking forward to more Disney themed vinyls. Really looking forward to the Beauty and the Beast set!

Thanks for sharing your collection with us Kimiko. I hope you can share it again in a year and we can see how much bigger it is!

Reminder: If you’d like to share your own collection with us, just email us and your collection can be featured too!

Wild West Explained

WDWNT on March 17, 2013

Wild West
Release Date: April 20
Disney Stores
Artist Signing with Gerald Mendez and Enrique Pita at the Sun Coast Plaza Mall in Costa Meza, CA on April 20 from 10am-1pm.

Update 04/02/13 We added photos from Disney of the set.



Update 04/01/13 We added photos from Vinylmation Exchange of the remaining 6 figures off the side of the tray.


Update 03/29/13 Zoe sent in some up close photos of each figure. This is where the Disney Store shines!!! Back to doing a Disney Character-centric set. We never questioned the talent of the DS artists, just the choice of designs they produce. They have a command of the Mickey platform when drawing characters on the canvas. We just want them to be DISNEY! You may not purchase this particular set, but this is what the average VM collector wants to see from these artists. The colors are wonderful. The use of ears with the various western back drops are perfect. The biggest plus is that they changed them up. And the accessories? Among the best we have ever seen. Just take a look…

 Pluto

First of all, they used the Furry Friends/Whiskers Tales paws! This may be my favorite Pluto. I love he just took a bite out of the bad guy’s pants. The “V” star belt is a wonderful touch.

Mickey

He is the sheriff. Disney Store makes the most amazing hats. The chewing on the wheat is a perfect touch. And I love that the artist used an old school Mickey.

Minnie Mouse

The bonnet is another great accessory by the Disney Store. She has the old school like, just like Mickey. Disney Store does the characters so well… some of the best mouse faces we have seen in Vinylmation.

Donald

Donald as an Indian is just spectacular. The expression the DS artists give to his face in all his figures are the perfect way to draw him. It is very hard to make the duck bill work, but they always do. The feather head dress! What can I say? I can not wait to have this one in hand. Then, in the ears, you can see the wild west landscape with cactus and teepees. 

Daisy

As much as I’m not a Daisy fan, the design here is a lot of fun. She looks like a performer in a wild west saloon. The clothing and feather in ear are great. Love the star background as well. 

Clarabelle

Great addition of a classic Disney cow into this western series.

Horace

Another one with Furry Friends paws. Great choice of the classic Disney horse into this set.

Goofy

Crazy eyes.

Huey, Dewy and Louie

It’s about time we get Donald’s nephews into a set. Three 3″ figures here. Wonderfully themed as Indians to fit in with Donald.

Mystery Chaser

Zoe was walking through the South Coast Plaza Mall in California today and happened upon this poster:


Looks like the Wild West series may be a smaller open window series similar to Disney Tunes. But a close look at the fine print mentions “purchase of a tray”, so I am not sure at this time. The series seems to be set for a Disney Store release on April 20th with an artist signing with Gerald Mendez and Enrique Pita from 10a-1pm at the South Coast Plaza Mall. We do expect the nation wide release over the same weekend.

Latest Progress on “Tangled” Restroom Area

WDWNT on March 17, 2013

A WDWNT reader was nice enough to send in the following pictures of the “Tangled” restroom area in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom that is currently under construction:

IMG_1833

As you can see, work is nearing completion

IMG_9731

IMG_0133

Pavement is down where guests can cross into Liberty Square

IMG_3262

There will even be a small water feature as guests cross a bridge

Stay tuned as we continue to track the progress on this new area of Fantasyland until it is completed!

Josh Edwards’ ToT Custom Series For Sale Today 3/29!

WDWNT on March 17, 2013

These will be for sale on Friday, March 29th at noon central standard time. So that would be 1pm for the east coasters and 10am for the west coasters. If you are interested in a chance to buy one, please send me a message through my custom page ON that day and no earlier. The price of each box will be $55. I will start with the first person once I receive payment then I will go to the next until all 12 are sold.

Follow Josh on his Facebook page.

Spotlight On: Casey’s Custom Accessories

WDWNT on March 17, 2013

We spotlight lots of custom artists on DV, but Casey Maute has put a twist on things. He creates custom accessories for your Vinylmation.

Destination Vinylmation: First off, what gave you the idea to start creating accessories for Vinylmation figures?
Casey Maute: I made my first ever painted custom for my friend and it looked pretty ridiculous… it looked like a baby so I figured it needed a baby piano! After I made that, he encouraged me to make more accessories. I’ve been working with clay for years now, making jewelry… so it was a perfect way to use my love of vinyls to continue with my clay work.

DV: Have you created any custom Vinylmation?
CM: I have! I’ve made one 3″ Winnie the Pooh for myself.. it’s not the greatest.. but I wanted to at least try to do a custom.. Then, I made the custom Sonny Eclipse with his baby “Fisher-Price” piano. I haven’t done any more painting, and stick to accessories now.

DV: You seem to create accessories for both Disney produced and custom figures.
CM: Most of the customs I make accessories for are for the artists. I’ve done a whole series of accessories for Crazy4Vinyls for his Simpsons series and I’ve done several for Jenny Grinsell’s customs.

DV: I am huge Sonny Eclipse fan. I have to visit him often to sit through a show even if I don’t eat there. You feature a lot of Sonny Eclipse, are you a fan as well?
CM: I’ve become a fan, but anything Sonny Eclipse related was for Shane Russell’s Sonny Eclipse army! He’s really let me get creative and make up all kinds of crazy things for his Sonny’s to wear.

DV: Did you create the custom Sonnys we see in the photos? If so, can you tell us about them?
CM: I did not, the credit goes all to Jenny Grinsell! She’s amazing and really has taken customs to the next level with her level of detail and creativity.

DV: Do you plan on selling your accessories? If so, do you take requests?
CM: Yes, and yes! Anyone can message me on my Facebook fan page and request a custom accessory. I’ll let you know how much it costs and if its doable. I can always recreate something, or work with you to make something totally unique.

Follow Casey on Facebook and Instagram to see more of his work and contact him with your requests.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/outsidetheblox
Instagram: @osohandmade

Director Mickey For Sale at DisneyStore.com

WDWNT on March 17, 2013

I try to stay positive. We all understood, after it happened the first few times, that “LocationSpecific” Vinylmation released at Disney Stores in NYC, Chicago, San Francisco and such would eventually end up at the online Disney Store. We all changed our vocabulary from “Exclusive” to “Specific.” But Directory Mickey, released last year at the Burbank Studio Store on the Disney Studio Lot was supposed to be different. It seemed as though this was a limited time (not edition) item that would could only be picked up by Cast Members on the lot. Such other CM exclusive figures have never been available outside the cast only stores at WDW and DLR. But today, Director Mickey showed up available at the DisneyStore.com for $14.95.

I thought it might be an April Fools joke, but sure enough, I was able to add it to my cart and make it to the payment page. I have absolutely no problem making these “Location Specific” figures available to a wider audience online. But I do have a problem promoting a product as something it is not. With it’s discounts and sale policies, the Disney Store continues to set a precedent that makes a mockery of something Disney itself tries to promote as a collectible. What knowledgeable Vinylmation collector will actually purchase any of the upcoming Wild West Vinylmation blind boxes within the first couple months of the April 20 release? There was no reasonable assumption Director Mickey would be available outside of the Burbank Studio Store, and coming on the heels of the “Through the Years” Mickey combo released this past weekend, it makes it even more shocking. By the way, more price drops on DisneyStore.com today as well including blind boxes for $5.99.

Annemarie’s Custom Studio Ghibli Series

WDWNT on March 17, 2013

Beginning on April 1st, and continuing for the next twelve days, artist Annemarie will reveal a figure from her new Studio Ghibli custom Vinylmation series. It is a 12 figure series that will cover 9 different movies and will contain some wonderful surprises! Follow Annemarie at her Facebook artist page.

“My hope with this set is to reach the fans of Studio Ghibli but to also hopefully inspire many of you to check out these amazing films, some of which I believe are the greatest animated movies of all time.” – Annemarie

 Yubaba
“Spirited Away”
Proprietor of The Bathhouse and the main antagonist of the animated film.

Wow! The use of Frollo’s hat as her hair is innovative and just flat out amazing.

Howl
“Howl’s Moving Castle”
Mysterious, reclusive wizard.

This is my favorite Studio Ghibli film. This custom is full of color and life. The inclusion of Calcifer in the ear is a perfect way to add to the story. And the detail of the castle in the other ear is stunning.

Kiki
“Kiki’s Delivery Service”
A young witch

Annemarie uses the Minnie platform and Kiki is a perfect fit. Kiki’s cat Jiji is expertly drawn on that tiny space in the ear. And the sculpted broom isn’t half bad either.
Btw, some ? images below have now transformed 😉

Porco
“Porco Rosso”
WWI fighter ace and freelance bounty hunter

Part of what makes this series great is the shading, wonderfully done here bringing Porco to life. Also small details in the ears, like the plane here.

Blue Totoro
“My Neighbor Totoro”
  Leads a Mei to find Totoro asleep.

A wonderful depiction of the small blue creature from the film. Annemarie previously made a 9″ large grey Totoro. 

Mei
“My Neighbor Totoro”
Little girl who meets and befriends Totoro.

Great seamless use of the top of the Minnie canvas between the ears and the bow. Her dress and shoes also fit perfectly onto the Minnie.

Baby Boh
“Spirited Away”
Yubaba’s baby.

Again, a wonderful use of shading and minimal lines in the face to really bring the character across. Nice detail in the ear and the perfect Junior companion.

Baron
“The Cat Returns”
Young girl on the way to the Cat Kingdom.

A wonderful representation capturing the face and suit really well. The large top hat and sculpted cane give this piece added character.

Arrietty
“The Secret World of Arrietty”
A borrower who lives under the floorboards.

Another custom on the Minnie. Very smart use of the bow for her hair clip. Wonderful use of layers for the clip, hair and greenery backdrop. And yes, that’s a real pin accessory.

Ponyo
“Ponyo”
A fish-girl who floats away on the back of a jellyfish.

The idea to use the buzz helmet is great and she even painted on it. Everything just fits for a very pleasing design. The jellyfish painted on the body are beautiful.

No Face
“Spirited Away”
A spirit who attaches himself to Chihiro.

A seemingly simple addition to the series actually has intricately drawn ears, both Mickey arm removed and a sculpted upside down arm attached to represent his giving of gifts.

San
“Princess Mononoke”
A woman raised by the wolves

So good, I had to post both the front and the back. How incredibly rich and detailed are both sides of this vinyl! Again, on a Minnie shaped canvas, the design perfectly takes the form head to toe. The inclusion of a junior with a few Tree Spirits painted on is a great bonus.

Pin Trading Halted at Disney Parks

WDWNT on March 17, 2013

Update: 4/2/13 This was our April Fool’s joke. However, just think how easily something like this could happen. hmm…..

Disney has put an indefinite halt on guest pin trading with Cast Members at all Disney parks after a guest was injured at Hollywood Studios in Orlando on Sunday. Read the full story at our sister site Once Upon a Pin.

With pin trading put on hold, is Vinylmation trading far behind?

For more April Fool’s jokes…

2012 Nick and MC quit the podcast. Annemarie and Zoe take over.

2011 Our version of the Nerds Rock Stitch

Episode 114 Pink Rock Star

WDWNT on March 17, 2013

Ep. 114 Pink Rock Star

This week we have a detailed talk about the Urban Redux Super Mystery Chasers. We also discuss the Star Wars 3 and Wild West reveals and the Cutesters en Vogue and Mickey Through the Years releases. Of course we have a full release and events calendar as well.

Listen in Popup Player

Download podcast